Upstate Medical University to spotlight student research April 10

Upstate Medical University will spotlight research investigations conducted by students in its four colleges at the Charles R. Ross Memorial Student Research Celebration Wednesday, April 10 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. in 2231 Weiskotten Hall.

The event includes student platform presentations, a keynote talk by David Dean, PhD, of the University of Rochester Medical Center School of Medicine and Dentistry, and a student poster session. A reception will follow the poster session in the ninth floor Doust Boardroom at Weiskotten Hall.

Ten students will begin the program by offering brief presentations on their research and fielding questions from the audience. The platform presentations will be offered in two sessions: 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. and 2 to 3:15 p.m.

Students and their presentations include:

Session 1

12:30 p.m. Lei Mi-Mi, College of Graduate Studies, “Towards Better Muscles in C. elegans: A Tale of Two Formins.”

12:45 p.m. Auyon Ghosh, College of Medicine, “Early Application of APRV Prevents Development of ARDS in a Rat Hemorrhagic Shock Model.”

1 p.m. Abby Cummings, College of Nursing, “Benefits and Risks of Anticoagulation in the Elderly with Atrial Fibrillation.”

1:30 p.m. Jason Gokey, College of Graduate Studies, “The Vacuolar Type (H+)-ATPase Regulates an Early Step in Left-Right Asymmetric Development of the Zebrafish Embryo.”

David Dean, PhD, will offer the keynote address “”Molecular Considerations for Gene Therapy” at 4 p.m. Dean is professor of pediatrics, neonatology and biomedical engineering at the University of Rochester Medical Center School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dean’s laboratory is studying the mechanisms of cytoplasmic trafficking of plasmids along the cytoskeleton, plasmid nuclear entry, subnuclear organization, and exploiting what they learn to improve gene therapy. His laboratory is also developing methods for extracellular delivery of non-viral vectors in animal models for disease. Using electroporation, Dean and his colleagues have obtained very high levels of gene expression in the vasculature and lungs of animals. They have used this approach to prevent and/or cure existing disease in models of acute lung injury and asthma in mice and rats. His next goal is to optimize these approaches in more relevant preclinical models to move toward clinical application.

Following Dean’s address, 98 students from Upstate’s four colleges will present their research at the Student Poster Session in the Ninth Floor Cafeteria at Weiskotten Hall. Food and refreshments will be offered in the ninth floor Doust Boardroom.

For more information, contact Jennifer Brennan at 464-4543, brennanj@upstate.edu.

Caption: Upstate students discuss their research investigations with people attending last year’s Student Research celebration.